Niemi admits Celtic interest

Southampton goalkeeper Antti Niemi insists he would be happy to join Celtic.

The former Rangers man is prepared to leave Saints following their relegation from the Premiership last season.

The south coast club value the 33-year-old at around £2m (€2.9m) and Hoops boss Gordon Strachan, who is also keen to sign Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, knows the player well from their time together at St Mary’s.

Niemi told the Scottish Daily Mail: “I am aware of Celtic’s interest and moving back to Glasgow would not be a problem for me. We will have to see what happens.”

Strachan has lined up a number of fall-back options, including Artur Boruc of Legia Warsaw and Croatia’s Stipe Pletikosa.

Strachan missed out on Craig Bellamy, who opted to join Blackburn, but has signed Poland striker Maciej Zurawski and borrowed Jeremie Aliadiere from Arsenal for a year.

That has given him plenty of attacking options but the former Southampton and Coventry manager may soon come under pressure from Blackburn to part with last season’s top scorer John Hartson.

Rovers struggled in the wrong half of the table last season and manager Mark Hughes is keen to put that right as soon as possible.